Bai Shi used his sword to push aside the envoy's hood, revealing a plain face. His colorless eyes proved that he was indeed a Tarnished.
To be honest, Bai Shi hadn't necessarily intended to kill him, but as the fight went on, he couldn't hold back.
It couldn't be helped. The man was just too weak.
Although the envoy's combat skills were decent, Bai Shi had already leveled up several times. With his superior stats, the envoy's defense was like paper; he couldn't even maintain his guard after a couple of strikes.
Well, what's done is done. Can't let it go to waste. Time to loot the body.
Bai Shi picked up the envoy's equipment: a straight sword called a Broadsword (+2), a Blue Crest Heater Shield, a Finger Seal, three Smithing Stone [1]s, and an Iron Cleaver.
In his past life, Bai Shi had studied Irena's death extensively. That an envoy would come to assassinate her was within his expectations.
In the game, it was clear that Irena hadn't been killed by the Misbegotten; the scene had been staged. Chapters fฤฑrst released on ๐ท๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ตโถ๐๐๐ฃ๐โถ๐ท๐ฎ๐ฝ
Where Irena died, two bloodstains were left on the rock behind her.
An Iron Cleaver, a weapon used by the Misbegotten, was stuck in the ground nearby, likely used to desecrate the corpse to create the staged scene.
However, the Misbegotten had suffered abuse and humiliation. After their rebellion, they constantly vented their rage. Even after an enemy was dead, they would continue to swing their cleavers until the body was minced into a paste.
This was why Bai Shi felt the scene was a fabrication. The Misbegotten wouldn't just kill someone, toss their weapon aside, and leave.
Melina's voice suddenly whispered in his ear.
"He was indeed an envoy serving the Two Fingers... I'm not saying you were wrong to kill him, but if the church of the Two Fingers finds out, it might cause some trouble."
Bai Shi was a little surprised.
"You don't find this to be heretical?"
"What's there to find? Just as you said, following guidance isn't the same as following the guidance of the Two Fingers."
Bai Shi thought about it carefully. For Melina, this truly didn't seem to be of any importance. Even if he became a Recusant, joined Volcano Manor, and hunted his own kind, she wouldn't object.
The only exception was the Frenzied Flame. That was Melina's absolute red line.
Bai Shi hoisted the envoy's corpse onto his shoulder and walked toward Torrent.
Irena was still in a state of dread.
She had just escaped the castle, only to encounter a group of Misbegotten on the road. All her guards had stayed behind to hold them off.
The servants escorting her had gone silent one by one, and she didn't know where they had gone.
She remembered her father once saying that a great bridge connected their Castle Morne to Lord Godrick's domain.
So, she had been steadying herself against the stone railing along the road, planning to seek help from the soldiers stationed on the bridge.
Then she heard a man on horseback tell her someone was behind her. If he hadn't warned her, she would have died without ever knowing why.
Thinking back now, the servants must have been silently assassinated by that stalker.
Just a short while ago, her life had been peaceful, but today, that peace had been shattered.
Her father remained in the castle, his fate unknown. The soldiers who stayed behind to cover their retreat were likely dead. The servants who had raised her had also been murdered...
Irena wanted to cry, but she couldn't. Her eye condition prevented her from even shedding tears.
Hearing Bai Shi's approaching footsteps, she shivered.
The fight earlier had been some distance away. She only knew it was over, not who had won.
Bai Shi walked up to her. Seeing her body trembling with fear and sorrow, he felt a pang of sympathy.
"It's all right now. The man who wanted to kill you is dead."
Hearing her savior's voice, Irena's taut nerves finally relaxed. But grief and lingering fear washed over her with even greater intensity. She sobbed, though without tears, muttering incoherently.
She tried to dismount to thank her benefactor, but due to her physical impairment, she nearly fell.
Fortunately, Bai Shi reacted quickly, dropping the corpse to the ground and catching Irena.
Feeling the soft, weeping body in his arms, Bai Shi felt nothing but compassion.
He gently patted her back, comforting her repeatedly.
"It's okay now. You're safe. As long as I'm here, you'll be fine. It's okay, it's okay..."
Irena gradually calmed down. She was a strong girl, and she still had important things to do.
She lifted her face, holding Bai Shi's hands as she pleaded:
"I beg you, please, could you deliver this letter to my father? He's the castellan of the castle to the south. The Misbegotten have rebelled, and sounds of fighting and roaring are everywhere."
"My father had the soldiers and servants help me escape, but he stayed behind to defend the castle. Please, take this letter to him. Tell him to run."
"Even if he has to bear the name of a coward, I want him to live. Because he's my father..."
"I'm sorry. You just saved my life, yet I'm shamelessly asking for your help again."
"But please, I'm begging you, please..."
Bai Shi held Irena's hands and promised in a solemn voice:
"Leave it to me. I will reunite you and your father."
Bai Shi rode Torrent to the edge of a cliff. Behind him, Irena's arms were wrapped around him. Her spirit had been battered today, and she had actually fallen asleep on horseback, leaning against him.
Bai Shi decided to take Irena with him. It was too dangerous to leave her alone; he didn't know if the envoy had been working alone, or if someone else wanted her dead.
With his right hand, Bai Shi had been holding one of the envoy's feet, dragging the corpse and leaving a trail of blood and dirt.
He coldly tossed the body, which was missing half its head, off the cliff. Only after hearing the splash as it hit the sea did he turn to leave.
To keep Irena from falling off in her sleep, Bai Shi moved her to sit in front of him.
He had her sit sideways on the horse, his left arm wrapped around her to hold her steady and control the reins, while his right hand drew his blade.
He was furious now and wanted to cut something down.
And so, the Misbegotten on the road to Castle Morne, still desecrating the bodies of soldiers and servants, met their doom.
Bai Shi rode away from the Misbegotten's position. Not a single corpse behind him was left intact.
The entire slaughter hadn't woken Irena.
Having lost her seat, Melina floated beside Torrent, somewhat astonished. Bai Shi's combat skills seemed to be self-taught.
Although the enemies were just a group of weak Misbegotten, his mastery of his weapon, his timing, and his handling of multiple attackers had all improved immensely compared to before. And he was still getting stronger.
Ignoring the dung beetle on the road pushing its ball of ash, Bai Shi soon arrived at the outer wall of Castle Morne. There was a Site of Grace there, and a merchant warming himself by a campfire.
Night had fallen, and Bai Shi didn't plan to enter Castle Morne today. Conserving one's strength was crucial.
He greeted the nomadic merchant and gave him 100 Runes to share the fire.
Bai Shi held the sleeping Irena, lost in thought.
From the bushes on the other side of the road, a rustling sound arose. Bai Shi looked over and saw pairs of yellowish eyes, like burning flames, light up the darkness.
Bai Shi knew those were eyes possessed by the Frenzied Flame.
"It seems the truth of the matter is even more complex than I guessed."